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Gabriel Boy

Popularity: #43 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationGAY-bree-uhl / /ˈɡeɪ.bri.əl/

Hebrew; Latin

Meaning

Hebrew: God is my strength; Latin: messenger of God

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gabriel has its roots in the Hebrew name גַּבְרִיאֵל (Gavri'el), which translates to "God is my strength." This name is composed of two elements: "gever," meaning "man" or "strong," and "El," referring to God. The name was adopted into Greek as Γαβριήλ (Gabriēl) and subsequently into Latin as Gabrielus, before making its way into Old French and finally into Middle English as Gabriel. This linguistic evolution reflects the name's enduring significance across cultures and languages, particularly within religious contexts.

Historically, Gabriel is recognized as one of the archangels in Judeo-Christian traditions, prominently featured in biblical texts. In the Hebrew Bible, Gabriel appears in the Book of Daniel, where he serves as a messenger of God, providing Daniel with interpretations of his visions. In Christian tradition, Gabriel is known for announcing the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary, a pivotal moment documented in the Gospel of Luke during the 1st century CE. The name's association with divine communication and strength has contributed to its lasting appeal.

Culturally, Gabriel has been a symbol of hope and divine guidance, often associated with the role of a messenger. The name has been borne by various saints, including Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, a 19th-century Italian saint, further embedding the name within Christian hagiography. Additionally, the diminutive form "Gabe" has emerged in various cultures, reflecting a more familiar or affectionate usage. The name's historical and religious significance has ensured its continued resonance in various cultural contexts.

Trend Summary

Gabriel has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States over the past few decades.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Gabe
  • Gab
  • Gabi

International Variants

  • Gabriel (Spanish)
  • Gabriele (Italian)
  • Gavril (Russian)
  • Gábor (Hungarian)

Famous people named Gabriel

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a novelist best known for One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera, and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

Gabriel Byrne is an actor best known for The Usual Suspects, In Treatment, and Miller's Crossing.

Gabriel Iglesias is a comedian best known for The Fluffy Movie, Stand Up Revolution, and I'm Not Fat... I'm Fluffy.

Gabriel Macht is an actor best known for Suits, The Good Shepherd, and Love & Other Drugs.

Gabriel Aubry is a model best known for his work with Versace, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Gabriel Batistuta is a former footballer best known for his time at Fiorentina, Roma, and the Argentina national team.

Gabriel Jesus is a footballer best known for his time at Manchester City, Palmeiras, and the Brazil national team.

Gabriel Union is an actress best known for Bring It On, Being Mary Jane, and Bad Boys II.

Gabriel Iglesias is a voice actor best known for his role in The Nut Job, and his work in the animated series Family Guy.

Fictional characters named Gabriel

Gabriel Gray is a fictional character from the TV series Heroes. He is a central character who possesses the ability to absorb the powers of others, leading to significant plot developments throughout the series.

Gabriel Belmont is a fictional character from the video game series Castlevania. He is the protagonist in several games, known for his quest to defeat Dracula and uncover his own past.

Gabriel Van Helsing is a fictional character from the film Van Helsing. He is a monster hunter tasked with defeating Dracula and other supernatural threats.

Gabriel Knight is a fictional character from the video game series Gabriel Knight. He is a private investigator who becomes involved in supernatural mysteries and historical conspiracies.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gabriel was first seen in the United States in 1880. Gabriel has ranked as high as #32 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Gabriel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Gabriel (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 755
12%
CA 754
12%
FL 500
8%
NY 377
6%
IL 230
4%
PA 211
3%
GA 203
3%
NC 203
3%
OH 194
3%
VA 181
3%
MI 180
3%
AZ 159
3%
MA 146
2%
WA 140
2%
IN 124
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188015
188117
188220
188310
188421
188511
188613
188718
188813
18899
189015
189110
189210
189316
189422
189514
189618
189710
189817
189912
190019
190121
190223
190318
190414
190529
190616
190721
190834
190939
191041
191147
191284
1913114
1914131
1915173
1916174
1917190
1918190
1919191
1920201
1921219
1922194
1923209
1924235
1925202
1926202
1927247
1928255
1929237
1930220
1931209
1932184
1933188
1934163
1935178
1936202
1937172
1938170
1939153
1940193
1941206
1942194
1943199
1944194
1945163
1946173
1947236
1948216
1949265
1950258
1951246
1952262
1953275
1954291
1955332
1956345
1957384
1958362
1959449
1960427
1961549
1962574
1963582
1964617
1965621
1966548
1967644
1968735
1969865
19701,245
19711,574
19721,921
19731,981
19742,232
19752,431
19763,303
19773,346
19783,126
19793,236
19803,494
19813,373
19823,363
19833,269
19843,325
19853,215
19863,046
19873,079
19883,120
19893,037
19903,699
19914,413
19924,336
19934,374
19945,538
19955,713
19965,899
19976,404
19987,068
19997,369
20008,681
200110,917
200212,059
200312,521
200411,563
200512,759
200612,543
200712,911
200813,040
200912,833
201012,886
201112,361
201211,577
201311,244
201410,953
201510,909
201610,278
20179,176
20188,435
20197,765
20207,165
20217,293
20227,247
20236,777
20246,379